Chances are if you think something is missing from your home, it’s usually a plant or three. They help add focal points to any room, drawing the eye and helping you relax.
Alocasias are some of the most striking and unusual plants you can grow in your home, adding tropical vibes that will soften the look of any room.
While you may be familiar with one or two Alocasia plants on this list, there are many more that you probably haven’t heard of that are worth adding to your houseplant collection.
You can find Alocasia in the wild in parts of subtropical Asia and Eastern parts of Australia, but these beautiful plants are grown all over the world as houseplants for their unique foliage (See also Alocasia Flowers: 5 Common Questions Answered).
Appearances can also differ wildly between just under a hundred different species of these wonderful plants.
Alocasia plants can be tricky at first, but if you give these plants plenty of warmth, humidity, light, and water, creating a balanced care regime, these plants will last for years, and reward you with luscious leaves.
Interested in growing a different type of Alocasia? Here are 23 options to get you started.
Alocasia Varieties To Grow Yourself
Alocasia azlanii ‘Red Mambo’
While Alocasia azlanii ‘Red Mambo’ hasn’t been on the market for long when compared to other Alocasia species, it’s certainly made an impression.
It is a fussier Alocasia and needs regular and consistent care and attention, but all that effort is worth it.
It boasts some of the most beautiful leaves within the Alocasia genus, featuring glossy leaves that are only outdone by magazine covers with their shine, and the foliage is deep purple.
‘Red Mambo’ is particularly sensitive to drying out, and drastic temperature changes, so this is something to keep in mind. You may want to put this plant in a terrarium to keep it happier.
Alocasia baginda ‘Dragon Scale’
‘Dragon Scale’ is a beautiful variety and the one that many people picture when they think of Alocasia plants.
The name comes from the texture and deeply veined appearance of the dark leaves, which look like the hide of a reptile.
As if they weren’t beautiful enough to look at, the leaves also feature deep purplish veins on the undersides.
While ‘Dragon Scale’ needs sharp drainage to thrive, one thing it won’t cope with is drying out completely. This will kill any Alocasia quickly, so make sure you keep an eye on the moisture levels within the soil.
For best growth, aim to keep humidity at about 70% to keep this plant happy and the leaves luxurious.
It’s worth noting that cold drafts or temperatures can make this plant die back and go into dormancy, and it can be particularly difficult to encourage the plant to ‘wake’ again.
To avoid dormancy triggering outside its natural time, make sure the ‘Dragon Scale’ is in a room with stable temperatures above 60°F (or 16°C) at all times.
Alocasia baginda ‘Pink Dragon’
‘Pink Dragon’ adds plenty of drama with just the right amount of softness, with its immediately-recognizable pink petioles, and bold green leaves with silver veins.
It has a romantic look with its heart-shaped leaves, and the undersides feature a deep pink hue.
If you can get the conditions right, this plant can reach 4 feet high once mature, but it won’t settle for average humidity levels.
You may want to put this plant in a bright and warm bathroom or kitchen or group it with other plants to create a microclimate to keep all your tropical plants happy.
Alocasia baginda ‘Silver Dragon’
A variety that’s coveted in many houseplant circles is the ‘Silver Dragon’. The foliage is notably much paler than in some species, and it features leaves textured like the scales of a dragon.
These leaves are emboldened by deep emerald veins, which offset the silvery foliage nicely.
As ‘Silver Dragon’ tends to be fussier than some of the varieties you can buy readily, it will be a plant that plunges you into the deep end of Alocasia care if you start with this one!
‘Silver Dragon’ needs a bright position with plenty of indirect light, soil with sharp drainage, warm temperatures, and high humidity.
It’s much easier to care for Alocasias like ‘Silver Dragon’ when you give them an enclosed environment, where the growing conditions are more stable.
Alocasia cucullata ‘Buddha’s Palm’
‘Buddha’s Palm’ is a striking Alocasia variety, featuring solid green leaves which almost have a ruffled texture.
The leaves themselves look like outstretched palms, a little like an offering or a blessing.
These plants are said to bring prosperity to those who grow them. ‘Buddha’s Palm’ requires bright and indirect light, with consistently damp soil which stays airy and drains well.
If you don’t have enough light for an Alocasia, it’s worth trying ‘Buddha’s Palm’ under a grow light, as it is fairly compact for an Alocasia.
Alocasia cuprea ‘Red Secret’
One of the more unusual Alocasia varieties is ‘Red Secret’ sometimes known as the Mirror Plant or Jewel Alocasia.
The leaves are absolutely beautiful, with deep green to red leaves which are incredibly glossy, and reflect light. If that wasn’t enough, the deep veins on the leaves add another dimension of interest.
If you can give ‘Red Secret’ the consistent care it needs, it can reach just over 3 feet tall and wide.
This can be tricky to accomplish, as this plant needs around 60% humidity, an airy compost, bright light, and a warm atmosphere.
Alocasia lauterbachiana
While you could be fooled into thinking that this Alocasia is a Philodendron, Alocasia lauterbachiana features unusual sword-shaped foliage with purple tones on the undersides.
It will need plenty of space, as the plant can reach 4 feet tall and quite wide in the right conditions.
Alocasia longiloba
If you can get Alocasia longiloba to thrive in your home, it will reward you with leaves that can reach just shy of 2 feet long!
The leaves are stunning, featuring bold, highly glossy arrow-shaped leaves with light green veins. The stems contrast well, boasting deep brown to black hues.
Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Stingray’
‘Stingray’ stands out against any other Alocasia for its unique leaves, which start arrow-shaped and end with long narrow tips, not unlike the body of a stingray.
The foliage does have an almost rubbery appearance, making the name even more fitting, and the jewel-green leaves are worthy of any room in your home.
It’s worth noting that Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Stingray’ needs stable humidity levels, and a warm room with plenty of light without the risk of sun scorch.
Alocasia plumbea ‘Nigra’
If you prefer your houseplants with huge leaves, ‘Nigra’ is the perfect plant for you.
It’s one of the varieties that grows the biggest leaves, and not only are these leaves gigantic, but they are also gorgeous.
‘Nigra’ features deep green to purple-black leaves, and still softens any bright place with their metallic sheen.
As you might expect, you’ll need plenty of space for this Alocasia, as it can reach between 3 and 5 feet tall, depending on the conditions you give the plant.
To get the leaves as big as possible, feed the plant regularly in the growing season, and summer it outdoors in a shady spot.
Alocasia reginula ‘Black Velvet’
While ‘Black Velvet’ is more compact than other Alocasia varieties, what it lacks in size it makes up for in looks.
The leaves of ‘Black Velvet’ add a luxurious touch to any room, featuring dark green leaves with almost shockingly-bright silvery white veins.
It also helps that this variety can be much easier to take care of than some of the fussier plants on this list, and because of its smaller size, it’s perfect for terrariums or homes where space and window sills are at a premium.
Alocasia wentii
One of the easiest species to grow within the Alocasia genus is Alocasia wentii. It helps that the leaves can reach 40cm long when mature, making it a great option for those who like foliage on the larger side.
While not as sought after as some of the more ornate-looking species on this list, it deserves its place, as it is fairly forgiving and will still make a great statement with its deep green, lustrous leaves and purple undersides.
Alocasia x amazonica ‘Bambino’
Perfect for smaller spaces, ‘Bambino’ reaches a modest 12 inches high when mature. But you shouldn’t discount it from your list, as it is easy to maintain, and looks gorgeous.
‘Bambino’ features arrow-shaped leaves in a deep green with off-white veins, and the undersides look as if they have been dipped in purple paint.
This is one of the more forgiving Alocasia varieties, as it is more tolerant of less-than-ideal conditions, and is perfect for those who want to get into growing Alocasias without breaking the bank, too.
The beauty of the leaves does mean that it remains a firm favorite with those who grow Alocasias in general, even when they have grasped the basics of Alocasia houseplant care.
Alocasia x amazonica ‘Ivory Coast’
‘Ivory Coast’ is a stunning hybrid Alocasia variety that is steadily becoming more popular. It’s not hard to see why, with its iconic, arrowhead leaves, emboldened with silvery veins and set off nicely with brown stems.
If you have grown Alocasia plants before, and they’ve been a bit too bare for your liking when conditions haven’t been great, ‘Ivory Coast’ is a great option.
It has a much denser growth habit than other Alocasia varieties, as long as you give it the right conditions.
Don’t give it any dramatic changes or extremes, keep the plant warm in a humid room, with plenty of indirect light.
Alocasia ‘Yucatan Princess’
If you’re after a jungle vibe in your home, ‘Yucatan Princess’ is one of the best Alocasia plants to choose from.
Featuring wide leaves in a deep green, ‘Yucatan Princess’ provides the perfect contrast, as it boasts long and thin red or pink stems.
New growth features off-white stems, only adding to this plant’s rich beauty. If you can give this plant the right conditions, it will reach about 3 feet high in no time.
Don’t forget that all Alocasia plants are irritant at best, and toxic if ingested, so keep ‘Yucatan Princess’ and any other Alocasia plants well out of reach.
Alocasia zebrina
Alocasia zebrina is iconic, featuring zebra-like markings on the stems, and the solid green leaves will look great in any room.
Once you get the conditions right, this plant will reward you with huge leaves shaped a little like giant arrows.
The key to keeping this plant happy is to give it an indirect position, with plenty of warmth and humidity thrown in. Do not let this plant dry out.
Alocasia ‘Antoro Velvet’
An Alocasia species that can be difficult to source, but is well worth the effort, is ‘Antoro Velvet’. This plant boasts very nearly black leaves, more similar to that of Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ (See also Colocasia Types) rather than an Alocasia species.
The leaves are also unusual in that they feature tiny hairs or indumentum on the leaves, so when you get close enough, the curiosity that this plant invokes keeps giving!
New growth emerges as a strong green, and matures to near black, so the plant is constantly changing in the growing season.
It also helps that this plant stays fairly compact, though the leaves can get rather large, so you may want to plan where you want to grow this plant.
For this plant to thrive, give it an Eastern-facing window where it can get bright light with limited amounts of direct sunlight, and this will help avoid sun scorch.
While this plant will survive outside a terrarium or grow cabinet, it’s important to give the plant plenty of humidity so that these gorgeous leaves don’t crisp up.
You’ll also see the most growth possible if you can give the plant more humidity. Just don’t forget to raise the air circulation, too.
Alocasia infernalis ‘Black Magic’
Sometimes known as Alocasia ‘Black Panther’, ‘Black Magic’ should not be confused with ‘Colocasia Black Magic’, as it is not part of the Colocasia genus.
Hailing from the balmy rainforests of Southeast Asia, this plant can be difficult to find, but it is worth the hunt.
‘Black Magic’ features deep leaves in shades of green and red, and at a passing glance, they look completely black!
This plant’s foliage features glossy leaves with deep veins for added texture. It will grow to around 2 feet tall, which is much smaller than a Colocasia.
Make sure that you keep this plant well away from rooms that change temperatures dramatically, otherwise it will suffer.
It needs stable conditions, in bright and indirect sunlight, with plenty of warmth, room to grow, and good watering practices.
Alocasia ‘Pink Passion’
Alocasia brancifolia ‘Pink Passion’ is a newer variety that is very unusual as it features serrated leaves. It looks more like a palm than an Alocasia!
The leaves themselves are bright green, contrasting with the fantastic petioles which are speckled with pink, earning the plant’s name many times over.
This plant stays compact at around one foot tall, but it makes a perfect focal point in a bright and indirect position.
Do not allow ‘Pink Passion’ to dry out completely, and give it a room with lots of warmth, humidity, good airflow, regular watering, and airy compost.
Alocasia ‘Purple Nights’
If you prefer more solidly-colored stems and deeper leaves, ‘Purple Nights’ may be the variety for you.
This is a Jewel Alocasia, meaning that the foliage is deeply glossy, adding a beautiful touch to its deep green leaves.
It contrasts well against the pink petioles, and the silvery veins on the leaves only give this plant another level of sophistication.
Alocasia ‘Purple Nights’ will stay fairly small at about 70cm high, perfect for grow cabinets, which will also keep this plant safely away from pets and children.
Alocasia ‘Purple Prince’
‘Purple Prince’ is a very similar Alocasia variety to ‘Purple Nights’ in that it features deep green leaves, lighter veins, and pink stems.
It even has the same characteristic glossy sheen, but it does have purple undersides, and the leaves tend to be a little longer.
Alocasia ‘Sarian’
One of the most dramatic and beautiful plants on this list (which is saying something), ‘Sarian’ features elongated, arrowhead-shaped leaves with bright green veins and dark stems.
Alocasia ‘Tiny Dancer’
Alocasia ‘Tiny Dancer’ is unique in that it features tiny, pointed leaves that look like they should belong on a Flamingo Flower plant (or Anthurium andraeanum) rather than part of the Alocasia genus.
Both the stems and the leaves are bright green, and what the plant lacks in size (reaching about 60cm when mature), makes up for the sheer number of leaves on the plant at any one time.
Like any other Alocasia, make sure that ‘Tiny Dancer’ gets bright and indirect light, and you should rotate the plant regularly to stop it from leaning as it grows toward the light.
Final Thoughts
There are so many beautiful Alocasia plants to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is going in your home next.
Try to match the unique growing conditions you have in your home as closely as possible with an Alocasia that will do well in those conditions, as this makes plant care much easier.
If temperatures or humidity levels in your home tend to fluctuate, it’s worth making a grow cabinet or getting an indoor greenhouse, this will help keep Alocasia plants much happier, as they like stable conditions.
